Thomas Fitzthomas

Thomas Fitzthomas was a draper with considerable property in London. Since at least 1220s, his family had been part of London’s aldermanic ruling class which consisted largely of drapers, pepperers, goldsmiths, mercers, and vintners, and controlled the city through its hold over the offices of mayor, sheriff, and alderman.

Thomas Fitzthomas became alderman in the late 1240s, and in 1257–8 served as sheriff. He held the office of mayor for the first time in October 1261 and was reappointed in October 1262. In 1263 Fitzthomas placed himself at the head of the people who had taken to the streets in Simon de Montfort’s support, thus siding himself and London against King Edward III (r. 1216 – 1272) and in support of Montfort’s rebellion. Thereafter, until Montfort’s downfall and the battle of Evesham in August 1265, he helped to make London a bulwark of the Montfortian regime. Fitzthomas based his power on a militia and a revived folkmoot, the traditional assembly of all the citizens, that elected him mayor in October 1263 and again in October 1264.

After Montfort’s fall in August 1265, Fitzthomas and his leading colleagues were imprisoned by Prince Edward (1239 – 1307). Fitzthomas was imprisoned and was released two years later, on payment to Edward of a fine of £500.